Whitehall Transportation Receives Grant from St. James Healthcare to Install Backup Generator

Whitehall Transportation recently received a $10,175 grant from St. James Healthcare for the installation of a backup generator. As many people know in southwest Montana having backup power is a necessity in the cold winter months. Whitehall Transportation will be installing a backup generator ensuring uninterrupted transit services throughout daily operations.

The generator will ensure that the vehicles stored in the facility will start on cold winter mornings, security cameras, as well as overhead doors and electric heaters will continue operating and keep the transportation schedule on track.

“We have been targeting this project for some time now, and we are so thankful for the assistance from St. James. This award is a great head start on the project,” said Whitehall Transportation’s Paula Hippert.

“There are many people in our community who rely on us to transport them to vital appointments and other important errands. When we lose power to our facility, it affects the lives of those we serve.”

Whitehall Public Transportation started services on July 1, 2011, and it remains the only provider of transit for the general public in the greater Whitehall area. A good number of Whitehall residents and senior citizens utilize the transit service. WPT focuses first on medical and therapy appointments and then on trips for other basic life necessities such as nutrition, shopping, recreation/social, education, and employment, including Vocational Rehabilitation.

“St. James Healthcare has a proud history of serving everyone in southwest Montana and we know that transportation plays a major role in people making it to medical and therapy appointments,” said President of St. James Healthcare Jay Doyle. “We hope this grant will only bolster the already vital service Whitehall Transportation provides to the people of Jefferson County.”

Since submitting the grant to St. James Healthcare, the purchase price has increased for the generator. Whitehall Transportation is soliciting donations for the additional $1,247.00 to meet the additional cost. Donations can be mailed to PO Box 446, Whitehall, MT 59759 or dropped off at 1147 MT HWY 55 in Whitehall. For more information, please call (406) 287-3156.

Monthly Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) meetings are open to the public and are held at the “Dick Gustin Memorial Bus Barn,” 1147 HWY 55, Whitehall, MT. Dates of meetings can be found at http://www.whitehalltransportation.org.

​Prior to transporting any passengers, all of the Whitehall Public Transportation drivers receive extensive training in driving, operating lifts, and wheelchair securement. In addition, they each have received CPR/First Aid training. Five of the nine vehicles in the WPT fleet have accessible ramps or lifts.